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enThe FourFourTwo 100 Best Football Players in the World 2014Presenting the finest footballers on the planet this year...http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwo-100-best-football-players-world-2014
OVERVIEWFourFourTwo's eighth annual rundown of the planet's premier footballers, the 100 Best Football Players in the World 2014 features a few surprises, but nothing that hasn't been argued long and hard by our global network of experts.
Below is an easy-access guide to the full gamut of #FFT100 content - and feel free to have your say on Twitter,Facebook, Google+ and Instagram.
THE LIST 100-91• 90-81• 80-71•70-61• 60-51• 50-41• 40-31• 30-21• 20-11 • 10-1
VIDEO Top 10 Premier League players • Top 10 Players in the world
GALLERY The Full 100
ANALYSIS:
• How CR7 became the best, and why his decline is still a long way off
• Why Philipp Lahm is the world's second-best player… at least
• Why Messi's a future mentor, not a master
• Manuel Neuer and evolution of the goalkeeper
• How Luis Suarez is already helping Messi knock Ronaldo off his perch
• How Di Maria defied the Bernabeu boo-boys and became the jewel in Real's crown
• "Ice-cold" Modric now Madrid's second-most important Galactico
• Fighter Rooney still as important as ever for United
• Jackson Martinez: From poverty to Porto to the Premier League?
• Memphis Express: Next stop England for deadly Depay?
• James Rodriguez: How did the little Colombian with the stutter get here?
• How Alexis Sanchez made Arsenal weaker
• Maybe next year: The men who almost made it
INFOGRAPHICS:
• Players by club - who has the most players in the list?
• Players by league - has the balance of power swung?
• What boots do the FFT100 wear?
• English players fall to new low
• Champions League vs The Rest
• All hail Cristiano Ronaldo
INTERVIEWS:
• Aguero: Manchester is Blue now – and I love the rain, too
• Cazorla admits he loves the Tube – but flunks Cockney rhyming slang quiz
• Ivanovic: Why I don't mind being underrated
• Matic: US bombs, my move to Benfica and Jose the joker
LIVE BLOG (latest entries on top):
4pm Facebook chatLivid about the list? Wish to chew the fat? We're debating the FFT100 over on Facebook right now. Be polite, mind you...
3.15pm Infographics timeWe've been busy on the art desk, slicing and dicing the data for your visual delectation. Here's one: which club has the most players in the 100? Why, it's brilliant Bavarians Bayern Munich, with 14 players - or an entire team with three subs.
Next on the list is Real Madrid, pipping their Catalan cousins Barcelona 11 to 10; Juventus are next with nine, while Chelsea (eight) lead the Premier League charge. Speaking of which...
2.45pm Premier League Top 10The videography department have been highlighting those players involved in the English top-flight... and check out the news story for the full breakdown, including a close-fought race between the two great Manchester rivals...
1.45pm And the 10 best players in the world are…
1.41pm Our friends on Snapchat have already had No.10 and No.9, with another face every 30 seconds...
1.40pm Numbers 20-11: The world's best defender, a 26-year-old veteran and the man who dictates Madrid's rhythm. (Contrary to misunderstandings on Facebook, these are not all the same person.)
1.35pm Numbers 30-21: Getting up the sharp end now, with Serie A's all-action 'Warrior', two stars who swapped Dortmund for Munich, and Barcelona's new midfield metronome.
1.30pmPresenting numbers 40-31, with a kid called Hamez and the only Premier League centre-back in the list.
1.25pmInto the top half with 50-41 and the highest-ranked Englishman, Bayern's new pass-master, and the one that got away from Man City.
1.20pm Numbers60-51 span the ages, with our only teenager AND the oldest player on our list (twice the kid's age), plus Chelsea's 'evolving' starlet
1.15pm Here's Matt Bagby's hero, at No.70... and the nine blokes immediately in front of him, includingRoma's 'Future Captain', a World Cup wing wonder, and the defender every top Premier League team is after.
1.12pm Much as we love him, this won't happen.
@FourFourTwo Pirlo, Pirlo, Pirlo ;) #FFT100
— Matt Bagby (@Matt_Bagby) December 1, 2014
1.10pm Up next: Numbers 80-71, including an Anfield hero, Atletico's newest superstar, and an Arsenal flop.
1.05pmNumbers 90-81 include a busy Premier League keeper, Juve's latest defensive rock, a Welshman nicknamed Rambo and two Spaniards called Dave.
1pmAnd it's live. The first 10 (from 100-91) have been revealed and here's the first talking-point - a certain Signor Balotelli at No.99. Should he be higher? Should he be unemployed?
Also in the first slice are the plummeting Dani Alves, the diminutive Mathiueu Valbuena and six new entries...
12.55pm Five minutes to the first reveal. Stand by your beds.
11.50amWe asked on Twitter (#FFT100) who'd be in your top three. Besides the usual humorous replies, we got some interesting feedback...
@FourFourTwo Messi, Ronaldo, Reus. — Vujadin Tomkovic (@VujkeT) December 1, 2014
@FourFourTwo Messi, Ronaldo, Muller — Igor Wójtowicz (@IgWuju) December 1, 2014
@FourFourTwo Messi, Ronaldo, Muller — Igor Wójtowicz (@IgWuju) December 1, 2014
@FourFourTwo Messi, Ronaldo, Neuer — Matt Oswin (@MattOswin) December 1, 2014
@FourFourTwo Ronaldo, Ronaldo and Ronlado. #FFT100 — Ahmed Nasri (@Warchadi) December 1, 2014
Join the debate atTwitter,Facebook,Google+andInstagram
11.40amAre you on Snapchat? We are, and we'll be using it to reveal the greatest players in the world. Follow us FourFourTwoUKand you'll get a world-exclusive first peek at the Top 10, starting at 1.45pm today.
NEWS FFT's Best 100 Football Players: First look on Snapchat
10.45am At last, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Not December, but #FFT100: when we announce the 100 Best Football Players in the World.
After weeks of opinion-gathering from FourFourTwo's worldwide parade of experts, followed by days of intense arguing in the office, we've listed the planet's premier players.
Here's a little teaser...
The list will be revealed from 1pm GMT, a little under three hours from now. So let's start the arguments: who should be top? Would you back Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi… or is there someone else who could break up the duopoly? What about the Bayern Munich players?
NEWS Coming soon: FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World
Tell us what you think at Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram- and you can now follow us on Snapchat, too.
And keep an eye on this page for the latest updates.
featureMon, 01 Dec 2014 11:41:39 +0000Gary Parkinson297230 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comGallery: FourFourTwos Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014Weve finished arguing at FFT Towers and the results are in. Agree with us? Of course you dont so debate it on Twitter at #FFT100, and on our Facebook page.Read the list in full here...http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/gallery-fourfourtwos-best-100-football-players-world-2014
slideshow_featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 20:00:00 +0000Joe Brewin297197 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFourFourTwos Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014: 100-91Four full-backs, a pint-sized Frenchman, and an unsung Premier League hero.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-best-100-football-players-world-2014-100-91
The experts have been consulted, the contenders have been discussed, and the arguments have been had (several times over). Now it's here - FourFourTwo's eighth annual countdown of the world's 100 best football players.
Below are numbers 100-91, including four full-backs, a pint-sized Frenchman, and an unsung Premier League hero.
Words: Matt Allen, Joe Brewin, Gregg Davies, Huw Davies, Jonathan Fadugba, Nick Harper, Louis Massarella, James Maw, Nick Moore and Gary Parkinson.
It’s only a matter of time before the 22-year-old Wolfsburg left-back uproots for bigger things – and if you believe the papers, there’s no shortage of interest from the Premier League. You can’t blame clubs for being keen on him, either. Despite his tender years the Switzerland international is already undisputed first choice for club and country thanks to a swashbuckling style that reaps results. He built on last season’s five goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga with a string of positive performances at the World Cup, and continues to catch the eye with his penchant for pinpoint crossing and set-piece nous. JB
Why always him? Well, a multi-million pound transfer from AC Milan to Liverpool helps. Balo’s back in the Premier League, but he’s also been boxed down 48 places in this year’s ranking and now teeters on the brink of falling out of the FFT100 completely after what can only be described as an unsatisfactory year. It’s not that Super Mario has been terrible – he hit 18 goals in 41 appearances for Milan last season and scored a World Cup winner for Italy against England, after all. It’s more that, at 24, while still young, Balotelli appears nowhere near realising his true potential. A poor start at Anfield hasn’t helped. JF
The 30-year-old entered late into the FFT100 discussions, but his consistent displays place him here on merit. Lichtsteiner is more vital to Juventus than many realise, his relentless energy on the right flank (and Kwadwo Asamoah’s dribbling on the left) giving their forwards options, their midfielders space and their defenders cover. And there’s no arguing with a combined 10 goals and assists in 27 league games in 2013/14 and, incredibly, six in his first 11 this term. Reliable at full-back or wing-back and impressive at the World Cup, he won’t be short of suitors if contract talks with the Old Lady continue to drag on. HD
“He’s doing everything to reach the top. He has a body of a true athlete, power and flair.” Just one of several glowing endorsements of the PSV wing sensation, who makes the FFT100 for the first time after a breakthrough campaign in Eindhoven. The 20-year-old scored 12 goals and assisted seven more in 32 Eredivisie appearances last season, and capped a fine 2013/14 by opening his account for his country at the World Cup. The first of two goals in Brazil, the winner in a 3-2 triumph against Australia, made Depay the youngest Dutchman to ever score at the tournament finals, at 20 years and four months. GD
FEATUREMemphis Express: Next stop England for deadly Depay?
Last season represented something of a coming of age for the wily wideman, now 27. Not only did he score 15 goals and provide six assists in his debut season in Italian football, but he also helped Napoli to a Coppa Italia final victory over Fiorentina. Eight goals in his first 11 Serie A matches of this season were enough to finally convince Vicente del Bosque he was ready for a step up into a Spain side in need of regeneration. Callejon made his debut as a substitute in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus in November. JM
Alves would probably like to remove his brain and scrub his hippocampus with wire wool, such are the rotten memories 2014 has ingrained upon it. Barça’s season was miserable, with Atletico knocking them out of the Champions League and pipping them to the title, but that was merely a foul appetiser for the plate of horror the World Cup would serve up. He played in the first four matches, but was then benched for the Colombia quarter and the semi-final disaster. That said, it’s not as if his vim, nous and natural ability have evaporated. Alves would still be one of anyone’s first picks as a thundering full-back: he’ll just hope that 2015 brings less misery. NM
VIDEO How to run with the ball like Dani Alves
Eyebrows were raised when the much-admired France international ended his eight-year association with Marseille in the summer by joining Dynamo Moscow, rather than move to the brighter lights of England, Spain or Italy with QPR and West Ham among his alleged suitors. The 30-year-old scored 27 goals and assisted twice as many in more than 200 Ligue 1 appearances, leading to l’OM retiring his No.28 shirt. Aside from having to undergo an emergency appendectomy in September, life in Russia hasn’t begun too badly. Signing a three-year deal worth a reported €10 million salary, Valbuena scored two goals and assisted seven in his opening 10 Russian Premier League outings. GD
“I’m not a world-class player like David Silva or Yaya Toure. They are stars. I just try to do my best.” Zabaleta’s best is clearly enough for Manchester City supporters, who idolise the former Espanyol full-back. The Argentine sneaks into FFT’s century of the world’s elite after helping steer Manchester City to a second league title in three seasons and his country to their first World Cup final since 1990. The 29-year-old, now recognised as one of the best right-backs in the Premier League, missed just three games as Manuel Pellegrini's men edged out Liverpool and Chelsea for top spot, his relentless running up and down the flank helping him set up six goals and notch one himself. GD
Some would suggest the Colombian hitman suffered a slow start to 2014, but although he couldn't maintain the sensational goalscoring rate of the first half of 2013/14 (14 in 21), he still bagged nine in 21 matches from January to May. It may not have been enough to seal Porto the title, but it did at least see him finish top scorer. He was overshadowed at the World Cup by compatriot James Rodriguez, and that may have in part cost him a big summer move, but his superb start to this season (he scored 13 in his first 17 in the Primeira Liga and Champions League) should see vultures circling again before long. JM
ANALYSIS From poverty to Porto to the Premier League?
The Moroccan defender was hot property in the summer after helping Roma to a second-placed finish in Serie A last season. Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea were all reportedly keen to recruit the 27-year-old centre-back, but he eventually plumped for Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, the former Barcelona supremo an admirer of his ability to operate in both a three- and four-man backline. Making his debut against one of his other suitors, City, in the Champions League, the stopper has been used regularly in Europe this term and returned to the Stadio Olimpico to haunt his former employers in October, the Germans routing Rudi Garcia’s side 7-1. GD
THE FFT 100: 100-91 • 90-81 • 80-71 • 70-61 • 60-51 • 50-41 • 40-31 • 30-21 • 20-11 • 10-1
More on the #FFT100•Debate it at Facebook.com/FourFourTwo
featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 19:00:00 +0000Joe Brewin293533 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comBalotelli sneaks in at 99 in FFT’s Best 100 in WorldMario Balotelli has yet to set the world alight for his new club Liverpool, and the Italian striker has only just crept onto FourFourTwos Best 100 Players in the World for 2014.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/balotelli-sneaks-99-ffts-best-100-world
The former Manchester City forward has work to do to justify his £16 million purchase from Milan, scoring just one goal in all competitions against Ludogorets.
Balotelli scored 26 Serie A goals for the Rossoneri after returning to his homeland from Manchester in January 2012.
However, his poor start to life back in the North West of England has resulted in him dropping 48 places from last season’s list, compiled by FourFourTwo.
The 24-year-old sits just above Wolfsburg full-back Ricardo Rodriguez at number 100, and just below Juventus' title-winning defender Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Speedster Raheem Sterling, a new entry, is the Merseysiders’ highest ranked member on this year’s century of stars.
There is also a place for his England team-mate Daniel Sturridge, who hit 21 Premier League goals alongside Luis Suarez’s 31 as the Reds came agonisingly close to securing their first top-flight title since 1990.
FFT100 Find out where all of Liverpool’s players place in this year’s list
news_articleTue, 02 Dec 2014 18:59:59 +0000Gregg Davies295783 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMemphis Express: Next stop Premier League for deadly DepayRising to prominence in the World Cup, the young flyer has taken PSV to the top in Holland and, says Elko Born, he could well be en route to England...Elko Bornhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/memphis-express-next-stop-premier-league-deadly-depay
There was Robin van Persie, who was seemingly able to float when he scored his wondergoal during the Netherlands' 5-1 demolition of Spain, and there was Arjen Robben, who was arguably the best attacking player in the team, storming up and down the pitch delivering goals and assists.
Both the Manchester United man and the Bayern Munich star performed as was expected of them. But scouts around Europe will have had their eyes on another member of the Dutch team; one significantly younger and less well known than the aforementioned superstars: Memphis Depay.
Louis van Gaal, still in his role as manager of the Dutch national team, played Depay for many more minutes than predicted. Apparently, he saw something in the kid who had broken through from PSV's youth academy the previous season. Usually deployed on the left flank, so that he can cut inside to use his powerful right foot, Depay was often used when the Dutch played in a 4-3-3 formation.
On more than one occasion, Depay’s presence proved decisive. During the Netherlands’ second group game, against Australia, the winger came on in the second half, when the Dutch were behind 2-1. Following Van Persie’s equaliser, he scored the winning goal shortly before the final whistle. In the Netherlands’ third group game, against Chile, Depay made another second-half appearance, this time scoring the 2-0 after a fantastic bit of team-play with Arjen Robben.
Cue the rumours
No wonder rumours appeared linking Depay with various Premier League clubs. But as things turned out, Depay stayed put in the Netherlands. There was a general feeling he needed one more year of development in the Eredivisie. What’s more, PSV didn’t want to lose their star man: chasing after their first Dutch title in six years, the Eindhoven-based club relied on Depay for goals.
How right they were to do so. So far this season, Depay has scored seven in nine matches for his club, and had he not been out injured for a good part of a month earlier this season, this figure could have easily been higher. In most matches, it looks like Depay could almost single-handedly guide his club to the Eredivisie title. Consequently, PSV are currently top of the Dutch league – and if Depay keeps performing the way he’s performing at the moment, they may well stay there.
It truly looks like the World Cup allowed Depay to develop from a promising youngster into a top-class player. Training under Van Gaal and together with players like Robben and Van Persie, the whole experience has obviously sharpened his skills. Now, Depay seems ready for the next step. Having outgrown the Eredivisie, he might just be ready to set his sights on the bigger leagues in Europe, the Premier League included.
A link with Manchester United is easy to make. At the World Cup, it was clear Depay and Van Gaal have a good working relationship, and no one was surprised to hear the PSV youngster praise his boss in the Dutch media multiple times after the tournament. Additionally, Van Gaal has a reputation for working with youngsters. Maybe the United boss has what it takes to make Depay an even better player.
It’s likely, however, that other clubs might chase Depay as well. Tottenham Hotspur have had their eyes on the Eredivisie for a while now, signing players like Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen from Ajax. Undeniably, Depay would be a great addition. Then there’s Arsenal, whose manager Arsene Wenger has never shied away from adding Europe’s highly-rated youngsters to his squad.
With the January transfer window approaching, rumours linking Depay to a Premier League club might soon flare up again. It’s not hard to see why: currently ravaging the Dutch top flight, the flamboyant winger seems ready for the next step in his career. Maybe last summer was too early, and maybe he’ll stay put this winter. Next summer, however, all bets may well be off: by the next FFT100, he could be playing for a different club and higher up the list.
More on the #FFT100
featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:59:30 +0000Gary Parkinson295560 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFrom poverty to Porto: Why Jackson Martinez is finally ripe for a big move to the Premier LeaguePortuguese expertTom Kundertevaluates the incredible rise of a striker who wont be short of Premier League suitors next summer and is included on our list of the Best 100 Football Players in the World...Tom Kunderthttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/poverty-porto-why-jackson-martinez-finally-ripe-big-move-premier-league
Although a prolific marksman in South America, when Porto bought Jackson Martinez in 2012, few were expecting him to match the feats of his recently departed compatriot Radamel Falcao, who in two brilliant years at the Estadio do Dragao scored 72 goals for the Blue and Whites. A little over two years later and you can argue that Jackson has been every bit as productive at the club as his international team-mate.
Until recently he'd scored the exact same number of goals as Falcao, albeit in 20 more games, but his current tally of 75 goals in 110 matchesis still a stunning record, especially when considering that Jackson’s supporting cast has been nowhere near the same quality as his predecessor, who benefited from a generous supply line of chances fabricated by Hulk, James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho at their peak.
In contrast, Jackson, as he is known in Portugal, has often carried the team. Porto’s summer spending spree finally afforded him the high-quality team-mates a player of his calibre deserves. He has responded by bettering his goalscoring ratio in 2014/15, so far hitting the net 15 times in 19 matches.
Fierce shooting with either foot, a constant threat in the air and a finely tuned predatory instinct in the box combine to make Jackson a complete striker. He is also capable of the spectacular, like this audacious goal against Sporting, managed in a blink of the eye with his back to goal.
His first coach at Porto, Vitor Pereira, with whom he lifted the Portuguese Liga title and was crowned the Primeira Liga’s top scorer in his debut season, has no doubts that the Colombian is up there with the best.
Asked to define the goalscorer after a triumphant first season, Pereira said: “We’d been tracking him for three years. He would have cost us much less if we’d got him earlier, but he moved from Colombia to Mexico.
“He’s technically fantastic, has a strong personality and the attributes of a world-class player. I believe with the development, professionalism and maturity he has shown he’s going to be one of the best in the world.”
Hunger, shyness and shame
Jackson's rise to stardom is a classic rags-to-riches story. In 2004 the striker was scouted by Colombian club Independiente Medellin when playing in a local tournament. His impoverished family barely had enough money to pay for the 200km journey from his hometown of Quibdo to Colombia’s second-largest city, but his father scraped together the cash and sent his son on his way.
His first coach Pedro Sarmiento said the youngster's spindly build was a direct consequence of malnutrition, owing to a lack of money to properly feed himself. “He didn’t eat well and went hungry several days a week,” Sarmiento told Portuguese football site Maisfutebol. “Despite being a professional footballer, he had awful conditions. I myself had to buy him shorts, socks, shin pads and boots so he could train. He was beyond poor; he was practically destitute.”
To make matters worse, Jackson didn’t open his mouth out of shyness and embarrassment. “He was a wall of silence and shame,”Sarmiento continued. “He would always arrive late for training. I shouted at him but he wouldn’t reply. That was when the others told me he had no money and he came to training on foot, a two-hour walk there and a two-hour walk back. I pressed him to talk and he admitted that he didn’t have a single peso in his pocket. His family were going through tough times and couldn’t send him any money. I took him in and he became one of my household.”
The fame and fortune Jackson’s talent has brought him must have seemed a distant dream in those early days, especially after an inauspicious start to his senior career. “When he first came off the bench, making his debut for a few minutes, he was roundly booed and insulted by the fans,” explained Sarmiento.
“I was one of the few who believed in that skinny kid. I felt he had something special and refused to give up on him. He was given a rough ride by the home supporters, so I waited before picking him again. We travelled to Bucaramanga and I made him a starter. He destroyed them – he played with rage. The fans never disrespected him again.”
Jackson Martinez’s first monthly salary at Independiente was around 400,000 pesos (€172), i.e. next to nothing. Independiente’s football director Fernando Jimenez told Maisfutebol how the money side of things began improving for the teenage striker just minutes before his official debut.
“After talking to the coach we realised that Jackson wasn’t in a good way,” said Jimenez. “He had a sad air about him. I sat beside him just before he went out on the pitch and said: ‘Tomorrow you start earning 800,000 pesos.’ His face broke out into a broad smile I’d never seen before.”
Despite the initial scepticism from his own team’s fans, Jimenez recalls that in the very first week of training he would leave the watching coaches open-mouthed: “On the fifth day of training they were completely convinced. ‘Where did you discover him? He’s a star!’ they said.”
Moving on up
So having proved the doubters wrong so comprehensively at his first club and at Porto, with an equally successful spell at Mexican team Jaguares de Chiapas in between, the question is: can he take the final step up and thrive in one of Europe’s top leagues, a decade after his football journey began?
The increased physical rigours will not be a problem; long gone are worries about his body strength. Jackson’s powerful frame makes him a formidable competitor for the toughest of defenders.
His less than stellar performances in European competition before this season (six goals in 19 appearances) may explain why clubs from the major leagues haven't yet come in for him. Along with his goals, he also contrives to miss some absolute sitters (not to mention his poor penalty conversion record), and in more competitive leagues there will be fewer chances than in Portugal.
But, like port, he is only improving with age and appears ripe for the big time. He has netted six goals in seven Champions League games this season, and bagged a brace against Japan in his one World Cup start in Brazil.
Potential suitors may also have been warded off by a huge release clause at notorious hard bargainers Porto. Significantly, the clause was reduced to €35 million (from €40m) in August, along with an improved and extended contract.
The word in Portugal is that the deal was struck to guarantee one more season out of Jackson and pave the way for his sale at the end of the season. Rumours had dragged on for months that Jackson was getting itchy feet, and having recently turned 28, the Colombian knows it is now or never for a lucrative move to one of Europe’s richest leagues.
More on the #FFT100
featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:58:00 +0000Joe Brewin294168 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFourFourTwos Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014: 90-81A busy Premier League keeper, Juve's latest defensive rock, and two Spaniards called Dave.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-best-100-football-players-world-2014-90-81
The experts have been consulted, the contenders have been discussed, and the arguments have been had (several times over). Now it's here - FourFourTwo's eighth annual countdown of the world's 100 best football players.
Below are numbers 90-81, including a busy Premier League keeper, Juve's latest defensive rock, and two Spaniards called Dave.
Words: Matt Allen, Joe Brewin, Gregg Davies, Huw Davies, Jonathan Fadugba, Nick Harper, Louis Massarella, James Maw, Nick Moore and Gary Parkinson.
Immobile’s reputation is based on two ludicrously prolific years: 2011/12's strike-crazy loan at Serie B Pescara, and last season's 22 goals for Torino, which won him the Serie A Capocannoniere and helped the Bulls finish seventh. Having secured both a big-money move to Borussia Dortmund (as Robert Lewandowski’s replacement: ooh, tough gig) and a place in the Azzurri team as a result, it will be fascinating to see whether this old-fashioned line-leader can produce similar stunning form on a bigger stage… or disappear without trace from the 2015 FFT100. NM
The French playmaker is hardly Mr Popular, but his performances for Manchester City in the second half of 2013/14 were an integral factor in the Etihad Stadium side's Premier League success – he provided seven goals and seven assists as City marched to the title. There were also signs he'd curbed his more confrontational side. "The way he has grown up is his influence on the group and the team," said City coach Patrick Vieria. "He's a positive lad, and taking more responsibility on his shoulders." This wasn't enough to convince France coach Didier Deschamps to take him to the World Cup, mind, a fact which led the disgruntled Nasri to pack in international football altogether. He should, therefore, have a point to prove this season. He might want to get a move on. JM
Since our last list, Tottenham have twice changed managers and rarely shown the kind of attacking panache that saw the North Londoners revered around Europe back when Lloris moved to the Premier League in 2012. The one constant has been the Frenchman, who continues to maintain a typically Gallic air of understated calm despite the chaos that surrounds him. Lloris has done an admirable job of stemming the tide when Spurs' collection of absent-minded defenders have a brain-fart, and although he seems relatively settled at White Hart Lane, he must surely feel he's a little better than all this. Could 2015 be the year one of the world's elite stoppers moves to one of the world's elite clubs? JM
A new addition to the 2014 edition, the versatile Uruguayan joins four of his defensive stablemates at Juventus in the FFT100 after helping the Old Lady seal a third successive Serie A title, the permachamps embarking on the league’s longest unbeaten run (22 games) on their way to racking up 102 points. TheBianconericonceded just 23 league goals all season, while Caceres won 37 of his 43 tackles, before featuring in all four of Uruguay’s World Cup matches – in a variety of roles – as la Celeste reached the last 16. GD
Would Arsenal have challenged for the Premier League title had Ramsey not missed three months of last season with a thigh injury? Quite possibly. He was on fire in the Champions League too, having finally rediscovered his zip after that career-threatening leg break in 2010. Arsene Wenger describes him as the “complete midfielder”, and it's Ramsey's much-improved ability in front of goal that has really caught the eye, never more important than the instinctive finish that won the FA Cup final in extra time. Not 24 until Boxing Day, the Welshman is very capable of joining compatriot Gareth Bale in the ‘world class’ bracket. LM
Having Sergio Ramos and Pepe for competition isn’t ideal for a promising youngster, but a patient Varane knows he is very much the future of Real Madrid’s backline. At just 21 the Frenchman is already a Champions League winner – preferred over his more experienced Portuguese team-mate in the final against Atletico Madrid – and a regular for his country, having taken in a valuable World Cup where he started four of les Blues’five games. Jose Mourinho, who handed Varane his debut at the Bernabeu in 2011, called him “the best young central defender in the world” in March. His upward trajectory hasn’t wavered since then. JB
Perhaps unsurprisingly the Armenian Footballer of the Year for 2011, 2012 and 2013, Mkhitaryan advanced his claim for a fourth straight award with an impressive opening season at Borussia Dortmund following his £25m move last year. Ultimately, his debut campaign was tinged with disappointment – hence his 18-place drop this year – as Dortmund finished second to Bayern Munich in both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. However, the man quickly dubbed ‘Micki’ established himself as a fans’ favourite with a number of notable goals in his first season, including his first Champions League strike for the Germans in a 2-1 away win at Arsenal. MA
He may be borderline unpronounceable, but the man his Chelsea team-mates call Dave has adapted brilliantly to the Premier League since his 2012 switch from Marseille. Like his predecessor Ashley Cole, he’s seriously quick and always looking to get forward – whether at left-back (where he’s mainly operated for his club) or right (where Spain favour him). That adaptability is an extra bonus for his managers, for whom the question is not whether but where to pick this smart, tireless player. Mourinho reckons that “11 Azpilicuetas would probably win the Champions League”. Praise doesn’t come much higher. NM
One of the few beneficiaries of Manchester United’s hopeless implosion over the last 18 months, De Gea has had plenty of opportunities to showcase the gifts United saw in him in the first place; playing behind Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling is both a blessing and curse. Always a spectacular shot-stopper, the Spaniard has got a grip on the physical nature of English football, despite still being so thin he has to run around in the shower to get wet. United’s best goalkeeper since Peter Schmeichel? Quite probably, yes. And as a result, Real Madrid-bound in the not-too-distant future? Quite probably, yes. NH
Another memorable 12 months for PSG’s midfield lung-buster, who once again was a buccaneering presence as his club retained Ligue 1 and added the French League Cup to their trophy haul. The left-footer also made an impact at his first World Cup, scoring in the 5-2 defeat of Switzerland. His athletic gifts mean he can get in opposition faces and deliver fiery tackles for a full 90minutes, but this is also a highly intelligent tactical operator who has worked hard to improve his passing and attacking game. NM
THE FFT 100: 100-91 • 90-81 • 80-71 • 70-61 • 60-51 • 50-41 • 40-31 • 30-21 • 20-11 • 10-1
More on the #FFT100•Debate it at Facebook.com/FourFourTwo
featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:55:00 +0000Joe Brewin293534 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comJust one Spurs man makes FFT’s Best 100 in WorldGoalkeeper Hugo Lloris is the sole Spurs representative in FourFourTwos Best 100 Players in the World, 2014.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/just-one-spurs-man-makes-ffts-best-100-world
The French international shot-stopper drops eight places from last year’s list after Tottenham endured a tumultuous 2013/14, struggling to adapt to life without Gareth Bale following the Welshman’s world record move to Real Madrid.
Lloris made 103 saves in 37 league appearances for the Lilywhites, twice as many as he pulled off in 27 outings the previous season, as the north Londoners ended the campaign 10 points off Champions League qualification.
Bale bags a top-five finish in the #FFT100, after a stunning debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu saw him score winning goals in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals, clinching ‘La Decima’ for the Madridistas.
Fellow former Spur Luka Modric also features prominently, placed among the top 20, while arch rivals Arsenal can boast four players in the final 100 with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey all making the cut for 2014.
FFT100 Read more about Lloris' year and see which 99 other men join him
news_articleTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:54:00 +0000Gregg Davies295782 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFour Gunners named in FFT’s Best 100 in WorldIn-form Arsenal attacker Alexis Sanchez is one of four Gunners named in the 2014 edition of FFTs Best 100 Players in the World.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/four-gunners-named-ffts-best-100-world
The former Barcelona forward is among the top 10 Premier League players on the list after an explosive start to life in the English top flight.
Sanchez’s stunning strike against Borussia Dortmund last Wednesday took his overall tally to 13 goals in 20 games for Arsene Wenger’s men.
The Chile international is joined on FFT’s century of star names by fellow Emirates Stadium attackers Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey.
However, there is no place for Jack Wilshere, whose year ends in disappointment having sustained another ankle injury, ruling him out for three months.
German playmaker Ozil falls 32 places from last year’s #FFT100 after an indifferent debut season in north London ended with World Cup glory in Brazil.
While Welshman Ramsey is a new addition to the annual rundown of the world’s elite; the 23-year-old starting 2013/14 like a house on fire with 13 goals in the first half of the campaign and ending it with an extra-time winner in the FA Cup final.
FFT100 Find out where all of Arsenal’s players rank in this year’s list
news_articleTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:53:40 +0000Gregg Davies295776 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFourFourTwos Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014: 80-71An Anfield hero, Atletico's newest superstar, and an Arsenal flop.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-best-100-football-players-world-2014-80-71
The experts have been consulted, the contenders have been discussed, and the arguments have been had (several times over). Now it's here - FourFourTwo's eighth annual countdown of the world's 100 best football players.
Below are numbers 80-71, including an Anfield hero, Atletico's newest superstar, and an Arsenal flop.
Words: Matt Allen, Joe Brewin, Gregg Davies, Huw Davies, Jonathan Fadugba, Nick Harper, Louis Massarella, James Maw, Nick Moore and Gary Parkinson.
Forget his recent moment of international buffoonery for the Ivory Coast (bearing down on the Sierra Leone goal, he comically blasted a ball at a 45-degree angle): Gervinho has spent much of the last year proving exactly why Arsene Wenger blew £10m on his contract. Sadly for Arsenal he now plays for Roma, where his contribution has proved vital. Utilised on the wing for much of last season, Gervinho scored or assisted 19 goals in 33 appearances as Rudi Garcia's side finished second in Serie A; he also scored twice at the World Cup, and struck three times in his first three Champions League games this season. Clearly, there's more to this lad than a silly haircut and comedic timing. MA
That Arsenal were finally able to end their eight-year trophy drought was largely thanks to the brilliance of their diminutive Spaniard in midfield. With the Gunners 2-0 down to Hull after 16 minutes, it was Cazorla’s brilliant free-kick that proved the catalyst for a rousing comeback at Wembley and finally gave suffering Gooners something to cheer. There are still question marks over whether the Spain international can assert his authority in Arsenal’s biggest games, and he perhaps doesn’t record as many assists as he’d like, but Cazorla remains one of Arsene Wenger’s most gifted and reliable performers, and a firm fan favourite at the Emirates. JB
INTERVIEWCazorla loves the Tube, but flunks Cockney rhyming slang test
PERFORMANCE Be a two-footed assasin
The Spaniard's January move to Manchester United certainly raised eyebrows. Mata was Chelsea's player of the year for 2011/12 and 2012/13, but Jose Mourinho – supposedly looking for more defensive discipline from his attacking players – opted to bench him, then cash in. After a slow start to life as a Red Devil, Mata found form towards the end of last season, scoring six goals in his last six appearances as United ended a disastrous season on a positive note. Yet it wasn't long before Mata found himself benched again. Does new United boss Louis van Gaal also see Mata as too much of a luxury? If so, another move could be on the cards sooner rather than later. JM
On reflection, perhaps No.24 on last year’s list was overly generous, but let’s call that Dante’s Peak and revise things a little here. He may well have been a key component of Bayern Munich’s domestic and European dominance in 2013, but the whole argument unravelled in 90 harrowing summer minutes for Brazil against Germany. Admittedly, every man in a yellow shirt was culpable in the calamitous 7-1 defeat, but the bubble-haired Brazilian was made to look more hopeless than even David Luiz, and that’s never easy. He remains one of the best defenders Philipp Lahm has ever played alongside, and he remains active for Bayern Munich, so the talent is there – but No.77 seems a more appropriate position. NH
The year began slowly for Isco, with Carlo Ancelotti naming the playmaker in his starting line-up for just three of 2014's first 16 matches. Things changed when, having finally been given the nod by the gaffer, Isco played superbly in a 3-0 Champions League quarter-final win over Dortmund, the midfielder scoring the second as los Blancos took a big step towards La Decima. Since then, he's generally found a place in the starting XI – although, frustratingly for him, not for the big one in Lisbon – with reports in the autumn even suggesting he may keep Gareth Bale out of the side. JM
According to France manager Didier Deschamps, he’s “very clinical, scores a lot of goals and creates a lot of goals” – so where the hell has Griezmann been hiding all these years? Across the southern border in San Sebastian, since you ask, after being picked up by Real Sociedad as a teenager. But after going unnoticed by France’s younger age-group teams and then picking up a lengthy ban for an off-field misdemeanour when he finally did get a call-up, the youngster didn’t make his senior debut until this year, impressing enough to make France’s World Cup squad, earn himself a big-money move to Atletico Madrid and make the FFT100. A rapid rise from a pacy player. LM
Were it not for injuries, who knows how high Martinez would be on this list? But bad luck means the Spaniard hasn’t played since rupturing a cruciate ligament in the German Supercup final against Borussia Dortmund in August – this after missing almost two months with a groin problem at the same stage of last season. When he’s available, though, Martinez is an essential element of Pep Guardiola’s Bayern machine, comfortable in numerous positions, most notably at central defence as part of his Catalan boss’s three-man back-line. The 26-year-old has also featured in his more natural defensive midfield position, and even further forward too – as he did in last November’s win in Dortmund, before switching to centre-back once Mario Gotze had entered the fray. A calming, dependable presence… when he's fit. JB
A new entry on the strength of a phenomenal annum in which his goals helped push Liverpool to within a captain’s slip of the Premier League title and his close-range half-volley provided England’s only moment of cheer in Brazil, Sturridge has had the year of his career. The last 12 months have made both Manchester City and Chelsea look slightly foolish for discarding England’s first-choice striker, although there are still question marks over the 25-year-old and his true worth. This season, with Luis Suarez gone and Sturridge now the alpha male up front, we should learn more about his credentials. The fact that he’s so far played only three league games in an injury-hit season has made his club’s need for him even more acute. But it also means we’re still waiting to see if he’ll be heading north or south on this list in 2015. NH
PERFORMANCE Sturridge: run rings around the opposition
A smooth operator in Roma’s midfield, the 24-year-old recently took his tally of Serie A appearances beyond the 100 mark after joining from Lyon in 2011. Fifteen goals and 19 assists have followed for the Bosnia-Herzegovina international, who took part in his first World Cup in 2014 but failed to reach the last 16. Rumblings of a return to France with PSG surfaced in January – as well as talk of a transfer to Barcelona or Manchester United – but in May he signed a contract extension until 2018. “I had the opportunity to leave, but I feel so good here that I ask myself, why should I leave Roma?” he told ultimouomo.com. “I love this team, I love this city, I want to win here.” GD
After nearly eight years in Madrid, Marcelo finally got his hands on a Champions League winners' medal, but that aside it wasn’t a vintage year for the Brazilian. Though he played a decisive role in Real Madrid’s 10th European Cup, coming off the bench to change the balance of the final with his energy and score his side’s third goal, Marcelo was part of the Brazil World Cup team that imploded on home soil. Not only did he score the tournament’s very first goal – unfortunately in his own net – the 26-year-old was a notoriously abject part of the team that lost 7-1 to Germany in the semi-final. He hasn’t been called up since. JF
THE FFT 100: 100-91 • 90-81 • 80-71 • 70-61 • 60-51 • 50-41 • 40-31 • 30-21 • 20-11 • 10-1
More on the #FFT100•Debate it at Facebook.com/FourFourTwo
featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:51:00 +0000Joe Brewin293536 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCazorla admits he loves the Tube - but flunks FFTs cockney rhyming slang testFourFourTwosJonathan Fadugbachats to the Gunners Spanish lock-picker, featured in FFTs Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014...Jonathan Fadugbahttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/cazorla-admits-he-loves-tube-flunks-ffts-cockney-rhyming-slang-test
FFT: Congrats Santi, you’ve made FFT’s Best 100 Players in the World shortlist. But who do you think is the best right now?
Well, I think there are two players way ahead of the rest. The battle for the crown of No.1 player in the world is between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. They consistently show a level that’s way above the rest and because of that they’re the best in the world.
You’ve got to choose one of them: who gets your pick?
Well, they’re totally different, you know. I think one is a little bit more complete physically, magnificent in the air as well as with both feet, while the other is just pure ability – a little bit beyond the norm really. For me if I had to choose one I prefer Leo Messi’s style of football. But of course, both are amazing.
Another toss-up for you: Neymar or Gareth Bale?
I think Neymar can become the best in the world. Bit by bit he’s improving and showing a level that could take him close to the level of Cristiano and Messi. It’s not easy to get to that level but I think for sure he will be one of the best players in the world in future.
What’s the secret to being one of the best players in the world?
Above all, ambition. Aside from the qualities that every footballer has, you have to be ambitious. If you look at Cristiano and Messi, every year they try to improve, they want to be the best. That desire to improve, to continue wanting to be one of the best in the world, for me it’s fundamental.
What else have you done to become one of the world’s best? Do you focus on one or more aspects of your game in particular?
Well for me, luckily, since I was a kid I’ve had the ability to play with both feet. But again, the basis of this has come from a lot of hard work. They’re qualities I’ve had since I was small but that I’ve been strengthening year after year, with every coach I’ve had and in each age group. I’ve tried to work on improving my left foot for example, and this has served me well until today and helped me be able to play with both my weaker and stronger foot.
Which Arsenal players would you say are in that top bracket?
Well we have many really good players. But, of course, the most recent example is Alexis Sanchez. His performances at Arsenal have been really first class. I knew of him from when he was at Barcelona and he’s a player who’s going to be very important for Arsenal. Mesut Ozil is another footballer whose qualities are recognisable to everybody in the world from his time at Real Madrid. He’s a spectacular player. Looking elsewhere, Laurent Koscielny for me is a great defender and there are very few players like him in the world. Of course I could give you more but I think these three are good examples.
FFT100 Find out who's one of the Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014
And what about other players in the Premier League who aren’t at Arsenal?
I’d start with [Eden] Hazard. He’s a spectacular player. He’s different to the norm and I think if he wants to, he could get very close to the level of Neymar, Cristiano and Messi. If he stays consistent and is ambitious he has the technical qualities to be one of the best players in the game.
If you were choosing a five-a-side team from the Premier League, outside Arsenal, who’d be in your team?
I’d choose Hazard, David Silva – he’s a player I love. I’d choose [Sergio] Aguero, he’s different. My 5-a-side team won’t defend very much by the way! (Laughs) But I’d choose Wayne Rooney, he’s a great player and I like his style of play a lot. And the final player I’d choose would be… hmm, it’s a difficult one but [Nemanja] Matic from Chelsea. He’s a player who gives his team balance and for me he’s fundamental to their team right now. I like him a lot.
Who are the best defenders in the world? Who are the toughest you’ve played against?
There are quite a few good defenders these days who are tough to play against. An example was last season against David Luiz. [John] Terry, [Gary] Cahill, [Vincent] Kompany are very physical footballers, strong and quick. It’s always difficult playing against them.
People don’t often discuss goalkeepers when it comes to the best players in the world. Why is this, and do you think a keeper can be better than an outfield player? How do we decide?
To be honest it’s difficult. We tend to value keepers less in football generally, regardless of what they do, compared to strikers who score goals or other outfield players who set them up. So quite often we don’t talk about keepers, even though in actual fact they can often make a fundamental contribution to the match. If a player like [Radamel] Falcao or Aguero scores goals but a keeper makes a great save, people generally remember the goals. So it’s difficult to stand out as a keeper.
Is it possible to rate someone as good as Manuel Neuer above someone like Ronaldo?
Yes, but not above Ronaldo, who’s an incredible player. But Neuer is among the best keepers in the world. His level at the World Cup was incredible and I think he deserves to be in the best 100 players in the world for sure. But it’s true, it’s difficult to take out an outfield player and replace him with a keeper in such a list.
Moving on, as a Spaniard in London have you visited many sites and tourist attractions? What would you recommend?
There are some very good ones! The truth is London is an incredible city. It has practically everything, there are loads of things to do for adults and kids. Museums, restaurants; the city has many luxuries even if it’s true that it can sometimes be difficult for us to go out due to our schedules and lack of time. But of course, when I have time I like to go out with my family and enjoy this great city.
Is it difficult to go out and about in London as a famous footballer? Do people recognise you and stop you all the time?
No, no! The truth is it’s very different to Spain. In Spain, whatever attraction or event or restaurant you go to people… I wouldn’t say annoy you, but it’s true that you get asked for loads of photos, autographs etc. Here in England they respect you a lot more. You can go to a restaurant with your family and eat in peace.
Once you’ve finished your meal or your dinner, that’s when you have a bit more time, or when people approach. This is something I value highly because it’s good to be able to enjoy time with your family as well.
Imagine you had a friend coming to London on holiday. What would you recommend they do?
I think there are some obvious sites that anybody visiting London should check out: there’s Big Ben, Piccadilly, Oxford Street. Most people know the big attractions so it’s difficult to give advice because, ultimately, everybody knows London. But if you’re coming to London for a few days there’s loads to see and do, and you don’t have any time to waste. So I’d recommend to anyone coming to London that they don’t waste time!
What are your favourite restaurants in London?
There are several. If I’m with my team-mates we go to places like Novikov, Nozomi or Nobu. And when I’m with my family we go to more Spanish restaurants: Iberica, Hispania, Cambio de Tercio so luckily we have a lot of options. All three are spectacular and I recommend you check them out.
Tasty. Have you ever travelled on the Tube in London?
I have travelled on the Tube but not often. For example, last season I went to the O2 Arena to watch Barcelona and Real Madrid play basketball in the Euroleague, and then again to see the tennis, when [Juan Martin] Del Potro played [Novak] Djokovic. It was the easiest option to avoid all the traffic. And furthermore it’s more comfortable. It’s super quick, nobody bothers you either, and you can go unrecognised. So it was fine.
Did you need a hat?!
No, no. I went totally normally and practically nobody recognised me, or if they recognised me they didn’t say anything. It was comfortable.
At Arsenal, who do you socialise with most? Who are your best friends at the club?
Well of course, as is normal, you spend a lot of time with those who speak the same language as you. Because when you’re new and you’ve just arrived at the club, you don’t understand the language very well and so you hang around with those who understand everything and can help you. So from that point of view I spend a lot of time with Mikel Arteta, Nacho Monreal, Alexis now he’s here, David Ospina and Joel Campbell. It’s normal really: the English speakers stick together, the French players are also together quite often. But generally speaking we all have a good relationship at the club.
Is the Chilean accent different or are any of the South American accents difficult to understand?
For us no, we understand the South American accents very well – whether Chilean, Colombian or Argentine. The accent changes but the words are the same, and so we understand each other perfectly, there are no problems.
Do you make jokes about each other’s accents from time to time?
Yes, of course sometimes there are jokes about the different accents and mannerisms! But that’s just winding people up for a bit of fun and with respect.
Slang with Santi
We’ve got a cockney rhyming slang test for you. Quick warm-up: have you ever tried steak and kidney pie?
(Looks confused) No. No! I’ll have to try it!
OK then… what’s the beans on toast?
Hmm, no. What is it?!
It’s cockney for the goalpost. Paul Merson would be furious.
Ok…
Beans on toast – goalpost. It can be confusing, we know. Ok. Rosie Lee?
Er… no idea.
Rosie Lee, tea.
Ahh, tea! It’s difficult, no?
Apples and pears?
(Bursts out laughing) Ha ha, I don’t think I’m going to have a damn clue about any of these! (Bursts into more boisterous laughter.)
Apples and pears is stairs.
(Keeps laughing)
Lesson over. Sorry Santi…
FFT100Find out who joins Cazorla in FFT's Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014
featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:39:00 +0000Joe Brewin295572 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFourFourTwos Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014: 70-61Roma's 'Future Captain', a World Cup wing wonder, and the defender every top Premier League team is after.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-best-100-football-players-world-2014-70-61
The experts have been consulted, the contenders have been discussed, and the arguments have been had (several times over). Now it's here - FourFourTwo's eighth annual countdown of the world's 100 best football players.
Below are numbers 70-61, including Roma's 'Future Captain', a World Cup wing wonder, and the defender every top Premier League team is after.
Words: Matt Allen, Joe Brewin, Gregg Davies, Huw Davies, Jonathan Fadugba, Nick Harper, Louis Massarella, James Maw, Nick Moore and Gary Parkinson.
Described earlier this year by one newspaper as “old, slow and not the player he was – because he’s even better”. You might add that Pirlo registers few assists, even fewer goals and didn’t have a great World Cup. He did, however, pull the strings as only he can as Juventus stormed to a third straight Serie A title, not to mention releasing an excellent autobiography and starring in a hilarious TV ad. Few footballers do cool and classy like the Italian playmaker, and despite tumbling down this year's FFT100 there’s life in the old dog yet, as stunning free-kicks against Empoli and Olympiakos recently prove. So important to Italy that he’s delayed his international retirement too. LM
It’s not easy earning recognition at a club where the limelight is hogged by certain individuals, but there’s a lot to be said for Pedro going into his sixth season as an important first-team component at Barcelona. Now working under his fourth manager at the Camp Nou, the 27-year-old is more of a peripheral figure these days behind the likes of Neymar and Luis Suarez, but only Cesc Fabregas featured in more games for Barcelona last season and Pedro continues to be trusted by Luis Enrique. Goals have been thin on the ground this calendar year but the Spain man is still a valuable squad member appreciated by his bosses in Catalonia. JB
It's been a hectic 12 months for the Argentina centre-half. Having won the Primeira Liga, Taca de Portugal and Taca da Liga, Garay helped Benfica to their second consecutive Europa League final, where they were defeated by Sevilla on penalties. It was during Brazil 2014 that Garay really caught the eye, however: the 28-year-old nailed down a first-team spot after Argentina's group stage win over Bosnia-Herzegovina before scoring a spot-kick in the victorious semi-final shootout against Holland. This impressive form earned him a €15m move to AVB's significantly chillier Zenit St Petersburg in the summer. MA
Touted as Dani Alves’s successor at Barcelona, the jet-heeled 26-year-old wasn't expected to be staying at Fiorentina too much longer – until he penned a new deal to 2019 in October. Nobody provided more World Cup assists than his four as Colombia reached the quarter-finals, following his fruitful Fiorentina involvement last season (43 games; 15 goals, 11 assists). Not bad for a converted right-back, eh? With that, Cuadrado offers defensive discipline that may well see him restored to his old position by a future suitor. Coupled with his proven attacking verve, you wouldn’t begrudge them doing so. JB
As nicknames go, De Rossi’s nomenclature of ‘Future Captain’ is both telling and a bit rubbish. Roma fans call their defensive midfielder ‘Captain Futoro’ in reference to the fact that when current captain Francesco Totti finally gives it all up, De Rossi is the man they expect and demand takes over. It’s easy to see why. A born leader, De Rossi mixes ability, intelligence, a wild-man beard and rugged muscularity to impressive effect. Labelled “one of the world's five strongest midfielders” by Marcello Lippi, De Rossi has just joined the 100 club for his country – compensating in part for a disappointing World Cup. The fact he’s also just been named as the highest earner in Italian football illustrates his importance in Serie A, even if he does only earn a ‘paltry’ £100,000 a week. NH
Blind was Ajax’s undoubted gem as they sealed their 33rd Eredivisie title back in May. Having been converted effectively from a left-back to a holding midfielder by Frank de Boer, his energy and discipline in the position also won him the Dutch Footballer of the Year gong. He then showed a global audience what he could do in Brazil, thriving as part of Louis van Gaal’s fluid young side as they reached the World Cup semis. Poor results, system switches and injury may have marred the start of his United career as he followed Van Gaal to Old Trafford, but he looks a canny long-term signing. NM
A fat drop of 50 places would suggest a player whose powers are irreversibly on the wane, but there’s a mitigating factor where Cavani is concerned. Over the last year, so as to accommodate the luxurious ego that is I Am Zlatan in the centre of PSG’s attack, Cavani has frequently been shoved out wide, his powers resultantly blunted. Last season the Uruguayan fizzled out as the season wore on, scoring 16 goals before Christmas but only six more thereafter. Long-time suitor Arsene Wenger wasn’t fooled. “I think he plays a bit with the handbrake on,” he opined, referring to a talent wasted out wide. Eleven goals in 19 since the start of this season hints at a player re-energised and heading back in the right direction. NH
INTERVIEW Cavani: How to start your season with a bang
2014 was a breakout year for Navas, whose outstanding performances for club and country earned him a Euromillions move to Real Madrid. A heroic last line of defence for a Costa Rica team that reached a first-ever World Cup quarter-final with the tournament’s best defensive record, Navas was a Levante reserve less than two years ago. The 27-year-old established himself as their undisputed No.1 in 2013/14 and performed so well he was named La Liga goalkeeper of the season. But it was at the World Cup where Navas became a true international star, keeping three clean sheets in five games and saving 91% of the 23 accurate shots he faced, earning that move to the Bernabeu. JF
Proof that experience is everything, the autumn of Totti's prestigious career has long benefited from his international retirement. It's been eight years since he hung up the Azzurri colours; in September, three days after his 38th birthday, Totti scored the equaliser against Manchester City in the Champions League group stages. His 300th career goal made him the oldest scorer in the competition. A recent willingness to adapt to those advancing years has paid dividends. At the beginning of last season Roma coach Rudi Garcia opted to deploy Totti as a false nine, positioned deeper to spring Roma's wingers. Totti responded by scoring eight goals and creating 10 as his side finished runners-up in Serie A. MA
The Borussia Dortmund defender rises seven places in FFT’s rankings after playing a key role in Germany’s fourth World Cup triumph, heading home the only goal in Die Nationalmannschaft’s quarter-final win against France. Repeatedly tipped to become a part of Louis van Gaal’s new-look Manchester United squad in the summer, Hummels decided instead to sign a new contract with BVB, tying him to the Signal Iduna Park outfit until 2017. Might he be regretting it after Jurgen Klopp’s injury-ravaged side started the new season with seven defeats from 10 Bundesliga games? Probably not. “It’s nice to hear big clubs are interested,” he told Bundesliga Magazin. “I take it as a compliment but it doesn’t influence me in any way, otherwise. We earn enough here in Dortmund.” GD
THE FFT 100: 100-91 • 90-81 • 80-71 • 70-61 • 60-51 • 50-41 • 40-31 • 30-21 • 20-11 • 10-1
More on the #FFT100•Debate it at Facebook.com/FourFourTwo
featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:35:00 +0000Joe Brewin293538 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comThe FFT100: Players by leagueIn which country do the FFT100 ply their trade?http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fft100-players-league
The ongoing argument as to whether the Premier League or La Liga is better will continue to rumble after FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2014 conclusively proves that, er, both are.
With 29 players in the list – up three from last year – the English top flight has jumped back above the Spanish one, which has remained on 27. Now representing 56% of the FFT100, those two leagues are increasingly dominant, with numbers dwindling in the Bundesliga, Seria A and Ligue Un.
However, if England has nosed ahead again on quantity, Spain still has the quality. By applying a coefficient which awards 100 points to list winner Cristiano Ronaldo, 99 to runner-up Philipp Lahm and on down to a single point for No.100 Ricardo Rodriguez, we can judge the full importance of a league's FFT100 participants – and La Liga leads the way, for the fourth consecutive year.
The discussion will continue a while yet...
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featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:34:00 +0000Gary Parkinson297539 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFourFourTwos Best 100 Football Players in the World 2014: 60-51Chelsea's 'evolving' starlet, our only teenager AND the oldest player on our list.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwos-best-100-football-players-world-2014-60-51
The experts have been consulted, the contenders have been discussed, and the arguments have been had (several times over). Now it's here - FourFourTwo's eighth annual countdown of the world's 100 best football players.
Below are numbers 60-51, including Chelsea's 'evolving' starlet, our only teenager AND the oldest player on our list.
Words: Matt Allen, Joe Brewin, Gregg Davies, Huw Davies, Jonathan Fadugba, Nick Harper, Louis Massarella, James Maw, Nick Moore and Gary Parkinson.
Forget Liverpool’s timid start to the campaign, and anything you might think about that whole tiredness business – without Sterling, Liverpool wouldn’t have challenged for the Premier League title last season. Luis Suarez was devastating, and the undisputed force behind the Reds’ charge, but the Uruguayan couldn’t have done it all without the help of his prodigious team-mate. Sterling’s stunning solo display against Norwich left Brendan Rodgers’ men on the brink of glory, only for things to turn bad against Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Undeterred, the 19-year-old later proved one of England’s rare positives at an otherwise dismal World Cup – and a key player in Roy Hodgson's ongoing rebuilding process. As with Rodgers, the question for Hodgson is not whether to select Sterling, but where best to deploy him. JB
INTERVIEW Sterling: run your marker ragged
Before signing for Napoli last year, Higuain was Europe's most coveted benchwarmer, patiently watching as various Real Madrid managers employed a conveyor belt of stellar names while his stock, somehow, increased. And with good reason: with 100 La Liga goals in the bank, the Argentine switched seamlessly to Serie A, scoring 24 in 46 games. This form was capped by a useful World Cup in which Higuain – more important to his country than the overlooked Carlos Tevez or the unfit Sergio Aguero – grabbed the winner in a 1-0 quarter-final win over Belgium. MA
The Brazilian may have slipped 10 places in FFT’s rankings, but Oscar continues to attract admirers at Stamford Bridge. Luckily for him, they now include the boss. “Oscar has had a mental and tactical evolution that has allowed him to be a fantastic player,” Jose Mourinho enthused after a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace in October. “He’s not a No.10 that plays with the ball at his feet. He analyses the game and sees where the team needs him to move.” After netting nine goals last season, the Samba star has played a prominent role in Chelsea’s all-conquering start to 2014/15, including stunning strikes against Palace and QPR. GD
INTERVIEWOscar: play that killer pass
Despite our incessant need for story arcs, football rarely feeds us fairytale endings. Even the greatest players tend not to bow out in the centre of the biggest stages, instead edging away from the limelight and blending into the scenery. The man of a thousand preposterous pass statistics turns 35 years old in January; having retired from Spain duty in the summer, he has more often than not been left out of the Barcelona team of which he has been a mainstay throughout the millennium. That doesn’t make him a bad player overnight, and they won five of the first six games he appeared in, but the loss was an important one –to Real Madrid –and he may continue to find himself overlooked on the big occasion. GP
INTERVIEW Xavi: master the pass
The enduring image of Chiellini’s year comes from Brazil 2014: the defender sitting in the Italy penalty area, one hand raised in protest, the other clutching the bite mark left by Uruguay’s “cannibal squirrel”, Luis Suarez. Shame, really, because Juve’s immovable object and vice-captain – previously voted the seventh-best player operating in Europe – enjoyed a solid season as his side strode to a Serie A title, a charge that included a five-month unbeaten run. He’s now into his thirties, but when has that ever stopped an Italian defender improving? MA
INTERVIEWChiellini:Keep your emotions in check on the big occasion
One of Atletico’s key players not to be picked off by the European big hitters following Diego Simeone's upending of the La Liga apple-cart, Gabi certainly rounded off the domestic season in style: it was his corner that resulted in an equaliser against Barcelona, the subsequent 1-1 draw earning his team their first title in 18 years. This glory was bittersweet, though. Gabi was part of the team that lost out in the Champions League final to a Real Madrid unit big on swagger. Still, his captain’s role in helping Atleti to break up the big two’s dominance in Spain was pivotal – hence his debut appearance in the FFT100. MA
Still a cornerstone for both club and country, Buffon endured mixed fortunes during 2014. Italy were knocked out in the group stage of his fifth World Cup, and it isperhaps telling that even at 36 he hasn’t retired from international football under his old Juventus boss Antonio Conte.As has so often been the case since 2001, he excelled with Juve, helping them to a Serie A title and the Europa League semi-finals. In recognition of a superb career he was awarded the Nereo Rocco Prize in September… two months after extending his Juventus contract to 2017. MA
To look at Mandzukic’s 2014 is to wonder. The Croatian striker managed 26 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for Bayern Munich last season, a vital component of a team that retained both domestic league and cup in Germany. The 28-year-old ended the campaign as second-top scorer in the Bundesliga and scored twice at the World Cup to boot. Yet Pep Guardiola wasn’t satisfied, rumours of a rift between player and manager growing until Mandzukic was sold to Atletico Madrid in the summer, with the player admitting Guardiola’s style of play didn’t suit him. Statistically a good year, but not enough to stop him becoming a square peg in a round hole for Pep. JF
Another year, another Scudetto for Juventus, and once again 27-year-old Bonucci played a major part. With the Italy international in defence Juve only conceded 23 goals all season in Serie A, cruising to the title with a quite remarkable 17-point margin. Bonucci’s rugged nature, twinned with his impressive distribution and vision from deep defensive positions, means he remains a key component of Juve’s stalwart defence, though he was rotated at times last season with Angelo Ogbonna and Martin Caceres among the capable alternatives. Smart on the ball and not afraid to put his body on the line for the team. JF
A drop of 10 places, but still not bad for a player who was supposed be enjoying his retirement right now after bowing out with a hat-trick against Sampdoria at the end of last season (honestly, who writes this man’s scripts?). Instead, Di Natale decided to give it one more year for his beloved Udinese, and neither party is regretting it –the 37-year-old striker is already into double figures for the season, having bagged at least 20 in his previous five. A top-notch all-round goalscorer, whom Italy might wish had prolonged his international career beyond Euro 2012. LM
THE FFT 100: 100-91 • 90-81 • 80-71 • 70-61 • 60-51 • 50-41 • 40-31 • 30-21 • 20-11 • 10-1
More on the #FFT100•Debate it at Facebook.com/FourFourTwo
featureTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:30:00 +0000Joe Brewin293542 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comEnglish players fall to new low in FFTs Best 100The amount of English representation in FourFourTwos Best 100 Players in the World has dropped to its lowest ever figure in 2014.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/english-players-fall-new-low-ffts-best-100
Just three players in FFT’s century of the world’s top talent hail from England, level with Croatia and Belgium and just one more than Wales.
Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney is the highest-ranked of the Three Lions, but only just makes the top 50, while Liverpool duo Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge are new entries after a profitable 2013/14 with the Merseysiders.
Spain lead the way with 18 internationals featured in the final 100, including the Premier League’s leading man Diego Costa who has scored 11 goals in 10 league appearances on the back of a prolific season with Atletico Madrid.
Germany rises to a best-ever second spot on the back of World Cup glory in Brazil. Nine of their triumphant squad make the final roll call, with Marco Reus - injured shortly before the tournament began - also included.
Bayern Munich pair Philipp Lahm, the man who lifted the trophy,and imposing goalkeeper Manuel Neuer both place among the overall top four in the list.
FFT100 Dive into the full list and find out where your favourite player ranks
news_articleTue, 02 Dec 2014 17:26:00 +0000Gregg Davies295793 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com